When the temperatures drop, it’s time for comfort food. Is there anything that’s more comforting on a cold winter afternoon than a good, hearty bowl of chili? It’s a humble meal that’s neither entirely soup nor stew, but some kind of distant cousin to both. Savory and seasoned with a definite Southwestern tang, good chili is a real thing of beauty. And like a lot of great comfort foods, it’s not hard to make a really good version of this tried-and-true dish.
What You’ll Need
While there are many variations of chili – some with more heat, some with a combination of beef and pork sausage, some with a little sweet edge to that savory flavor – we’re focusing on a quick-and-easy chili recipe that you can throw together on a weeknight. That means we’re keeping the ingredient list simple. You’ll need a large pot, some olive oil, ground beef, an onion, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, beef broth, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper. The best part of this recipe is that the only thing that needs cutting and chopping is the onion. After sautéing the chopped onion and browning your ground beef, combine the ingredients until they’re well incorporated.
Season to Taste
Chili is a lot like barbecue: It’s different things to different people. Some folks like it blazing hot, while others want the chili flavor without the heat. If you’re a parent making this dish for small children, we advise you to leave out the cayenne pepper in the dish – but throw in a dash of hot sauce for yourself. Remember that your chili doesn’t have to be hotter than the surface of the sun, but some flavorful hot sauce can really make the other flavors in the chili stand out on your tongue.
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Keep in Mind
Flavors in chili take time to develop. Once the ingredients are incorporated, cook it up low and slow to ensure that you’ve got the flavor you want. One of the best things about chili is that it’s a great next-day dish. That means in the unlikely event of leftovers, the next day’s chili tastes even better since it’s had time for those flavors to meld together.
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